Soledad O'Brien is joining HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, the network announced on Wednesday."Soledad is a perfect fit for Real Sports," Ken Hershman, president of HBO Sports, said in a statement. "She's an extraordinary interviewer and storyteller, and we're ...

"Soledad is a perfect fit for Real Sports," Ken Hershman, president of HBO Sports, said in a statement. "She's an extraordinary interviewer and storyteller, and we're thrilled to be able to add her to a franchise where the emphasis is on finding and presenting thought-provoking stories in the diverse and ever-fascinating world of sports."Check out the most-watched TV shows of the 2012-2013 season

Added host Bryant Gumbel: Soledad's a respected journalist with a proven track record. Her credibility, broad interests and passion make her a wonderful addition to our program. I'm thrilled to have her on our Real Sports team." In addition to joining the program, O'Brien and her production company, Starfish Media Group, has inked an overall deal with HBO allowing the company a first look at any scripted projects and programming ideas that she and her company develop. "HBO is undeniably a leader in meaningful storytelling in a wide array of formats," O'Brien said. "I'm honored to join the Real Sports team and look forward to continuing my fervor for uncovering unique and impactful stories."

In February, O'Brien announced she was leaving her CNN morning show, Starting Point and was forming a production company to produce projects for CNN, as well as other television networks. She is also preparing two new installments of Black in Americafor CNN.